Thursday Recycle and Reuse: Batteries

Written by Martha on October 28th, 2010
ThuRs Recycle and Reuse

ThuRs Recycle and Reuse

A recent email from Neil L. Drobny of the Waste Not Center prompted this post. I am summarizing the information found by following Neil’s links.

Recycling of rechargeable batteries is now a fairly straightforward process.

Rechargeable battery types are: Nickel Cadmium (Ni-Cd), Nickel Metal Hydride (Ni-MH), Lithium Ion (Li-ion), and Small Sealed Lead* (Pb). Rechargeable batteries are commonly found in cordless power tools, cellular and cordless phones, laptop computers, digital cameras, two-way radios, camcorders and remote control toys.

You can take these types of batteries to any of the participating retailers. In the U.S.:

  • Alltel, Batteries Plus, Best Buy, Black & Decker, Cingular Wireless, The Home Depot, Milwaukee Electric Tool, Orchard Supply, Porter Cable Service Center, RadioShack, Remington Product Company, Sears, Staples, Target, US Cellular, Verizon Wireless, and Wal-Mart.

The battery manufacturers have funded this joint recycling initiative. Find the center nearest you that will take rechargeables here!

Non-rechargeable batteries (typically “dry cell or alkaline batteries”) still don’t have a recycler and general ly just must be disposed in the trash. Per Neil, “If you are interested in ordering a battery recycling kit, check out the three sites listed below:

The least expensive option is the iRecycle Kit 5. This is a battery and handheld electronics recycling kit for household that includes UN approved collection box, pre-paid shipping and pre-paid recycling.

Materials accepted include all types of dry-cell batteries including AA, AAA, C, D, power tool, laptop, cell phone, camera batteries and others; plus all handheld electronics such cell phones, iPods, and PDAs.

The cardboard container holds approx. six month’s to one year’s worth of batteries for an average household (5 lb. capacity) and is for Continental U.S. use only.  Cost: $24.95

Is that more information than you ever wanted to know about battery recycling? Me, Too. Now I have to actually dispose of batteries responsibly.

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